The Emancipation Proclamation was the document promising freedom for slaves in the rebelling states during the American Civil War. Issued by President Abraham Lincoln on January 1, 1863, it declared that all enslaved people in Confederate-held territories were to be set free. While it did not immediately free all enslaved individuals, it marked a significant turning point in the war by transforming the conflict into a moral crusade against slavery. The Proclamation encouraged enslaved people to escape to Union lines and motivated African American enlistment in the Union Army, reinforcing the union's commitment to ending slavery and ultimately leading to the 13th Amendment.